More Turks are now saying they support their country being part of the EU than at any time since 2006. Center-left voters who are discouraged by the ruling party’s policies make up a large percentage of these supporters. They view a closer connection to Europe as a possible source of protection for the liberties they see their government as encroaching upon. The questions are will these center-left voters be content with the revival of the membership negotiations and related gains only, and not actual membership, and will opposition parties shift their platforms to try to attract these voters.

* Özgehan Şenyuva works extensively on public opinion, Turkey-Euro – pean relations and the politics of European football. He is an associate professor in the international relations department at Middle East Technical University, Ankara. His recent book (co-authored), Turkish Public and Elite Perceptions on Turkey-NATO Relations (in Turkish), was published by Bilgi University Press in 2014.